Newcastle Jets have announced the return of former captain and 11-time Matilda Gema Simon for the 2023-24 Liberty A-League season.
Simon returns to the Hunter after an injury-riddled stint at Melbourne Victory, making only six appearances for Jeff Hopkins’ side last campaign.
The left-back has made a total of 130 appearances for the Jets and captained the side on 73 occasions, since debuting in the club’s first ever game back in 2008 against Canberra United.
INS AND OUTS: 2023-24 Liberty A-League Transfer Centre
She has also scored eight goals for the club, during her two spells at the Jets which have been intertwined between stints at an initial stay at Victory, and overseas in Canada, Iceland, Norway and South Korea.
“I’m coming home for what will be my 14th season with the club. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return where I started this journey 16 years ago,” she said.
The 33-year-old has twice won the Jets’ Player of the Year awards in 2010 and 2014, and was also part of the Matildas’ 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad in France.
Simon joins Rebecca Burrows (Canberra United), Sophie Hoban, Claudia Cicco (Wellington Phoenix), Melina Ayres (Melbourne Victory), Kiara Rochaix (Blacktown City FC) and Swiss international Lorena Baumann as the club’s latest off-season arrivals.
Newcastle open their Liberty A-League campaign against Central Coast Mariners on October 14 at Industree Group Stadium.
LOVED THE WORLD CUP? Here’s how to enjoy the Liberty A-League Women incl. FREE tickets for U16’s
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE LIBERTY PASS
CLICK HERE TO BUY A LIBERTY A-LEAGUE CLUB MEMBERSHIP
